The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-02-04
BOGUS INTERVIEWS.
An Explanation of the SO-Called
Sharp Interviews.

Some time since the Leader, in the
interest of honest journalism, investi-
gated reported interview had with
Mr.. Murat Halstead at the Union
Depot by the reporters of the Penny
Press and Chronicle Telegraph, and dis
covered that the alleged interview was
lie out of the whole cloth, as Mr..
Halste2d at that time had not left his
home in Cincinnati. In spite of the
public exposure thus made of the IN
truthful practices of their employees,
the editors of our esteemed contempt
raries not only kept the taking"
reporters in their employ, but wrote ed
itorials "vindicating" them from the
charge, while at the same time they
professed love for honest journalism
The legitimate fruit of such action
is now borne. After a short
cessation of their disreputable
practices of taking, reporters are at 1t
again. Two or three days since each of
the above papers published half col
umn of sensational matter, alleged to
have been an interview with Bishop"
John Sharp, of Salt Lake City, Utah, in
which Mr.. Sharp, or bis son, was made
to say that he was east to meet Dele
gate Game to talk over the polygamy
law, which he feared would ruin The
Mormons. The interview contained
much other matter of like sensational
character The Leader was informed of
the supposed interview on the day of
its publication, but from certain facts
within its knowledge it doubted the
genuineness thereof. There was one
thing certain, and that was that Mr.
Sharp is not now a Mormon bishop,
although he gets that title among
certain classes of people. Not being a
nigh church dignitary, it seemed highly
improbable that he would be coming
east on business of the church. So it
was that the Leader telegraphed to the
headquarters of the Utah Central Rail
road in Salt Lake City, OF which he is
Yice-president, to ascertain what his
over the Western Union wires as fol-
lows:
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, January 26
Editor PiHSburg Ledder:-John sharp.
vice-president, Utah Central Railroad, left
here for New York and Boston on railroad
business on Friday morning last.
Assistant G. s.
This knocked in the head the state
ments of our contemporaries that he
had said he was gong to New York and
Washington in connection with polyg-
amy and railway legislation. Not itis-
fed, however, with thus far having dis
covered the falsity of the alleged inter-
view, the Leader instructed its New
York correspondent to put himself in
communication with Mr.. Sharp and
ascertain from the gentleman himself
if he had said anything at all to Pitts
burg reporters. This morning we re-
ceived the following answer over the
United Lines Telegraph company:
NEW YORK, January %.
Editor LeddeT.-BishOp John Sharp, of
Utah, is still in town. l sent this message
through Pittsburg, and were you inter
viewed" 1his reply l received in his own
handwriting; 81 passed through Pittsburg
Tuesday morning, and two newspaper men
met me on the station platform. l told them
l mad no information for the press"
JOHN SHARP.
In other words the only truthful fact
in the sensational half column articles
which appeared in the. Telegraph and
Press on Tuesday was the mere fact that
John Sharp, vice-president of the Utah
Central road, passed through the city.
We repeat what We said few weeks
since thatrepOrters who manufacture"
news in this way are disgrace to Jour
and should be oStracised by all
who have the reputation of the pro
fessiou at heart as well as by all who
love honesty in all things. -Plttsbuurg
Leader editorial.